If Tehran attacks, it will be the "official end of Iran," warns Donald Trump

If Tehran attacks, it will be the "official end of Iran," warns Donald Trump

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have flared up after the United States deployed a carrier group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf over what it termed Iranian "threats."

(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 16, 2019, US President Donald Trump gestures as he announces a new immigration proposal, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC. - US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Sunday, May 19, 2019 suggesting that if the Islamic republic attacks American interests, it will be destroyed. "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again," Trump said in a tweet. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been on the rise as the United States has deployed a carrier group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf over what it termed Iranian "threats." (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)

Iran's foreign minister downplayed the prospect of a new war in the region on Saturday, saying Tehran opposed it and no party was under the "illusion" the Islamic republic could be confronted.

"We are certain... there will not be a war since neither we want a war nor does anyone have the illusion they can confront Iran in the region," Mohammad Javad Zarif told state-run news agency IRNA at the end of a visit to China.

Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Saudi Arabia, has approved Washington's request to deploy more military forces in the waters of the Arabian Gulf.

The main objective of the move is to allow Washington and the Gulf nations to work together to deter any aggression or military threat from Iran against its neighbours or interests in the region, sources familiar with the news said.

Iran-US relations hit a new low last year as US Trump pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed unilateral sanctions that had been lifted in exchange for Tehran scaling back its nuclear program.